As some of you are aware, I decided to head back to school to get my MBA and I made the decision to jump start working on a research paper even though school doesn’t start for a couple of weeks. The professor for a particular class posted the syllabus online and I got the general idea behind the required paper so I decided to go to the city library to gather some material for my preliminary paper.

I didn’t seriously expect to see a card catalog system but I look anyway because that’s how I used to find books in the library many many years ago! As I wondered about the library, a nice librarian came over and asked if she could help. I explained my situation and she took me over to a computer terminal (i.e. PC) and said I could begin my research at the computer. After playing with the computer for a few minutes, it dawned on me that I could have done the entire research from my house! The entire city library periodicals were online!

With publishers moving to e-books or other online formats, how long will it be before libraries are obsolete? I’m seeing ads for netbooks for $199 which come with built in internet access and this will essentially provide access to huge volumes of books, magazines, newspapers and other media instantly. What is the purpose of the library anymore? The library structure consumes a great deal of energy (lighting, heating/cooling, plumbing, etc) and also has extensive maintenance costs so I’m guessing someone is going to crunch some numbers and determine that it will be cheaper to give every citizen in the neighborhood a netbook (or kindle) with access to online books than maintaining the building, staff, etc.

If the record/cd store became obsolete, if the DVD is becoming obsolete, then surely the public library will become obsolete too right? For the first time in my life, I’m feeling old and nostalgic. I still remember the smell of those old card catalog systems at the library; a cross pollination between musty and stale card stock with a twist old oak or pine. God those were the days………

4 Responses to “ When Will Libraries Be Obselete? ”

Comments:

they won’t be obsolete so much as converge with net cafes. remember libraries still have a ton on research experience and customer service with patrons. they also tend to procure books, perodicals, etc. that aren’t in wide circulation. libraries will just need to redefine the niche they occupy.

I don’t think libraries will become obsolete anytime soon. There is also associated costs of owning a kindle/pc or device that will allow digital books/content. The library is a great alternative to buying books, providing information and entertainment at a great value.

The Kindle will inevitable go down in price from $299 to $199 to “free” with subscription. Newspapers (whose business model is broken) need to subsidize the Kindle or offer it free with subscription. Once enough saturation has taken hold, there will be no need to massive libraries in every city, just one massive one with all the online books, periodicals and research.

I’m sure libraries will be obsolete by 2050 along with schools and print books. Libraries are closing all over the country … so sad, but most everyone has a smart phone and access to any info they need right at their fingertips. I’m 67 and have an Iphone, a kindle, a nextbook, a Samsung Galaxy and a smart tv, not to mention my desktop and a laptop. Why should my tax dollars go for keeping a library open that VERY FEW people use. People who don’t have internet at home go there only to use the computers. Putting more funds into keeping the library open is like beating a dead horse.